The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, with its headquarters located in the City of New York, is an Eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, The mission of the Archdiocese is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, to teach and spread the Orthodox Christian faith, to energize, cultivate, and guide the life of the Church in the United States of America according to the Orthodox Christian faith and tradition.

Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, is the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America since 1999. He was born Demetrios Trakatellis in Thessaloniki, Greece on February 1, 1928. In 1950 he graduated with distinction from the University of Athens School of Theology. In 1960 he was ordained a deacon, and in 1964 a priest.

Holy Cross Orthodox Press is happy to offer the Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints Basil the Great, which is normally celebrated ten times during the year: on January 1, the feast of St. Basil; on the five Sundays of Lent; on the eve of Christmas and Theophany; on the former feasts when they occur on Sunday or Monday; on Holy Thursday; and on Holy Saturday.

The present volume is another in the series of bilingual liturgical texts (original Greek with new English translation) of the liturgical treasurers of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Fathers Alkiviadis Calivas, Theodore Stylianopoulos, N. Michael Vaporis, Thomas FitzGerald, and Peter Chamberas were the principal translators of those portions of the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great which are identical with those in the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom. For the remaining parts of the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil and for the additional services included in this volume, much is owed to Fathers Alkiviadis Calivas, and Theodore Stylianopoulos. In addition, this volume profited from the attention given it by Bishop Demetrios of Vresthena, Fathers Peter Chamberas, John Mahairas, and George Papademetriou. Special thanks is owed to Dr. Michael Featherstone for his invaluable assistance.

Thanks are also owed to Miss Georgia Stathopoulou for her attentiveness in preparing the text for publication. Needless, to say, any imperfections in the volume are due to me.

Finally and very deservedly, I must thank His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos who has provided me with the opportunity to spend much of my time in such enjoyable and rewarding work.

Deacon: Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest:(in a low voice) Lord, our God, whose power is beyond compare, and glory is beyond understanding; whose mercy is boundless, and love for us is ineffable; look upon us and upon this holy house in Your compassion. Grant to us and to those who pray with us Your abundant mercy.

Priest: For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Deacon: Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest:(in a low voice) Lord our God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance; protect the whole body of Your Church; sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house; glorify them in return by Your divine power; and do not forsake us who hope in You.

Priest: For Yours is the dominion, the kingdom, the power, and the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The Second Antiphon

The designated verses from the Psalms are sung with the hymn:

People: Save us, O Son of God, (Who rose from the dead), to You we sing: Alleluia (3).
On weekdays we sing "Who are wondrous among Your saints".

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Only-begotten Son and Word of God, although immortal You humbled Yourself for our salvation, taking flesh from the holy Theotokos and ever virgin Mary and, without change, becoming man. Christ, our God, You were crucified but conquered death by death. You are one of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit; save us.

Deacon: Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest:(in a low voice) Lord, You have given us grace to offer these common prayers with one heart. You have promised to grant the requests of two or three gathered in Your name. Fulfill now the petitions of Your servants for our benefit, giving us the knowledge of Your truth in this world, and granting us eternal life in the world to come.

Priest: For You are a good and loving God, and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The Third Antiphon

The designated verses of the Psalms are sung with the Apolytikion.

The Small Entrance

While the Apolytikion is sung, the Priest carrying the holy Gospel Book comes in procession before the Beautiful Gate and prays in a low voice:

Master and Lord our God, You have established in heaven the orders and hosts of angels and archangels to minister to Your glory. Grant that the holy angels may enter with us that together we may serve and glorify Your goodness. For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest blesses the entrance saying in a low voice. Blessed is the entrance of Your saints always, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

The Deacon raises the holy Gospel Book and says:

Deacon: Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

People: Come, let us worship and bow before Christ. Save us, O Son of God who rose from the dead, to You we sing: Alleluia. (On weekdays we sing: "who are wondrous among Your saints. " Feasts of the Lord have their own Entrance Hymns)

The Priest enters the sanctuary. The Apolytikion is repeated and the Troparion of the church and the Kontakion of the day are sung.

The Trisagion Hymn

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest(in a low voice): Holy God, You dwell among Your saints. You are praised by the Seraphim with the thrice holy hymn and glorified by the Cherubim and worshiped by all the heavenly powers. You have brought all things out of nothing into being. You have created man and woman in Your image and likeness and adorned them with all the gifts of Your grace. You give wisdom and understanding to the supplicant and do not overlook the sinner, but have established repentance as the way of salvation. You have enabled us, Your lowly and unworthy servants, to stand at this hour before the glory of Your holy altar and to offer to You due worship and praise. Master, accept the thrice; holy hymn also from the lips of us sinners and visit us in Your goodness. Forgive our voluntary and involuntary transgressions, sanctify our souls and bodies, and grant that we may worship and serve You in holiness all the days of our lives, by the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints who have pleased You throughout the ages.

Priest: For You are holy, our God, and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever...

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Amen. Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Deacon: Again, fervently.

Priest:Turning towards the Prothesis, the Priest says in a low voice: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Then turning towards the holy Table, he says: Blessed are You on the throne of glory of Your kingdom, seated upon the Cherubim, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

People: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

The Readings

The Epistle

Deacon: Let us be attentive.

The Reader reads the verses from the Psalms.

Deacon: Wisdom.

Reader: The reading is from (the name of the book of the New Testament from which the Apostolic reading is taken).

Deacon: Let us be attentive.

The Reader reads the designated Apostolic pericope.

Priest: Peace be with you.

People: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Priest(in a low voice): Shine within our hearts, loving Master, the pure light of Your divine knowledge and open the eyes of our minds that we may comprehend the message of Your Gospel. Instill in us, also, reverence for Your blessed commandments, so that having conquered sinful desires, we may pursue a spiritual life, thinking and doing all those things that are pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the light of our souls and bodies, and to You we give glory together with Your Father who is without beginning and Your all holy, good, and life giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

The Holy Gospel

Deacon: Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel.

Priest: Peace be with all.

People: And with your spirit.

Priest: The reading is from the holy Gospel according to (Name). Let us be attentive.

People: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

The Deacon reads the designated pericope of the holy Gospel.

Priest: Peace be with You who proclaim the Holy Gospel.

People: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

The Homily

Following the readings, it is customary for the Priest to proclaim the Gospel.

Priest(in a low voice): O God, You have visited our lowliness in mercy and compassion. You have set us, Your lowly, sinful, and unworthy servants, to serve at Your holy altar before Your holy glory. Strengthen us for this service with the power of Your Holy Spirit, and grant speech to our lips that we may invoke the grace of Your Holy Spirit upon the gifts that are about to be offered.

Priest: And grant that always guarded by Your power we may give glory to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The Great Entrance

People: We who mystically represent the Cherubim sing the thrice holy hymn to the life giving Trinity. Let us set aside all the cares of life that we may receive the King of all...

While the Cherubic Hymn is sung, the Priest prays in a low voice:

No one bound by worldly desires and pleasures is worthy to approach, draw near or minister to You, the King of glory. To serve You is great and awesome even for the heavenly powers. But because of Your ineffable and immeasurable love for us, You became man without alteration or change. You have served as our High Priest, and as Lord of all, and have entrusted to us the celebration of this liturgical sacrifice without the shedding of blood. For You alone, Lord our God, rule over all things in heaven and on earth. You are seated on the throne of the Cherubim, the Lord of the Seraphim and the King of Israel. You alone are holy and dwell among Your saints. You alone are good and ready to hear. Therefore, I implore you, look upon me, Your sinful and unworthy servant, and cleanse my soul and heart from evil consciousness. Enable me by the power of Your Holy Spirit so that, vested with the grace of priesthood, I may stand before Your holy Table and celebrate the mystery of Your holy and pure Body and Your precious Blood. To you I come with bowed head and pray: do not turn Your face away from me or reject me from among Your children, but make me, Your sinful and unworthy servant, worthy to offer to You these gifts. For You, Christ our God, are the Offerer and the Offered, the One who receives and is distributed, and to You we give glory, together with Your eternal Father and Your holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Priest: We who mystically represent the Cherubim sing the thriceholy hymn to the life; giving Trinity. Let us set aside all the cares of life that we may receive the King of all...

The Priest censes and says in a low voice: (On Sundays)

Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We venerate Your cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify Your holy resurrection. You are our God. We know no other than You, and we call upon Your name. Come, all faithful let us venerate the holy resurrection of Christ. For behold, through the cross joy has come to all the world. Blessing the Lord always, let us praise His resurrection. For enduring the cross for us, He destroyed death by death.

Psalm 50

Priest: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the multitude of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my inquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my inquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done evil in Your sight, that You may be found just when You speak, and victorious when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin my mother bore me. For behold, You have loved truth; You have made known to me the secret and hidden things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; You shall wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the afflicted bones may rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and establish me with Your governing Spirit. I shall teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall joyfully declare Your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim Your praise. For if You had desired sacrifice, I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God will not despise a broken and a humbled heart. Do good in Your good pleasure to Sion; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then You shall be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole burnt offerings. Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

The Great Entrance then takes place.

Deacon: May the Lord God remember all of you in His kingdom, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The Priest and the Deacon enter the sanctuary, while the people sing the end of the Cherubic Hymn.

Deacon: For a perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless day, let us ask the Lord.

People: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.

People: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: For forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord.

People: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: For all that is good and beneficial to our souls, and for peace in the world, let us ask the Lord.

People: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: For the completion of our lives in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.

People: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: For a Christian end to our lives, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good account before the awesome judgment seat of Christ, let us ask the Lord.

People: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest: Lord, our God, You created us and brought us into this life. You have shown us the way to salvation and have bestowed upon us the revelation of heavenly mysteries. You have appointed us to this service by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Grant, therefore, O Lord that we may be accepted as servants of Your new Covenant and ministers of Your holy mysteries. Accept us as we draw near to Your holy altar, according to the multitude of Your mercy, that we may be worthy to offer You this spiritual sacrifice without the shedding of blood, for our sins and for the transgressions of Your people. Grant that, having accepted this sacrifice upon Your holy, heavenly, and spiritual altar as an offering of spiritual fragrance, You may in return send down upon us the grace of Your Holy Spirit. Look upon us, O God, and consider our worship; and accept it as You accepted the gifts of Abel, the sacrifices of Noah, the burnt offerings of Abraham, the priestly offices of Moses and Aaron, and the peace offerings of Samuel. As You accepted this true worship from Your holy apostles, accept also in Your goodness, O Lord, these gifts from the hands of us sinners, that being deemed worthy to serve at Your holy altar without blame., we may obtain the reward of the faithful stewards on the fearful day of Your just judgment.

Priest: Through the mercies of Your only begotten Son with whom You are blessed, together with Your all holy, good, and lifegiving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Trinity one in essence and inseparable.

Deacon: Guard the doors. Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

The Creed

People: I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages.
Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father through Whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried.
And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets.
In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen.

The Holy Anaphora

Deacon: Let us stand well. Let us stand in awe. Let us be attentive, that we may present the holy offering in peace.

People: Mercy and peace, a sacrifice of praise.

Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.

People: And with your spirit.

Priest: Let us lift up our hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord.

People: It is proper and right.

Priest: Master, Lord, God, worshipful Father almighty, it is truly just and right to the majesty of Your holiness to praise You, to hymn You, to bless You, to worship You, to give thanks to You, to glorify You, the only true God, and to offer to You this our spiritual worship with a contrite heart and a humble spirit. For You have given us to know Your truth. Who is worthy to praise Your mighty acts? Or to make known all Your praises? Or tell of all Your wonderful deeds at all times? Master of all things, Lord of heaven and earth, and of every creature visible and invisible, You are seated upon the throne of glory and behold the depths. You are without beginning, invisible, incomprehensible, beyond words, unchangeable. You are the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the great God and Savior of our hope, the image of Your goodness, the true seal of revealing in Himself You, the Father. He is the living Word, the true God, eternal wisdom, life, sanctification, power, and the true light. Through Him the Holy Spirit was manifested, the spirit of truth the gift of Sonship, the pledge of our future inheritance, the first fruits of eternal blessings, the life giving power, the source of sanctification through whom every rational and spiritual creature is made capable of worshiping You and giving You eternal glorification, for all things are subject to You. For You are praised by the angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities, powers, and the many eyed Cherubim. Round about You stand the Seraphim, one with six wings and the other with six wings; with two they cover their faces; with two they cover their feet; with two they fly, crying out to one another with unceasing voices and everresounding praises:

People: Holy, holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth, heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna to God in the highest.

Priest: Together with these blessed powers, loving Master we sinners also cry out and say: Truly You are holy and most holy, and there are no bounds to the majesty of Your holiness. You are holy in all Your works, for with righteousness and true judgment You have ordered all things for us. For having made man by taking dust from the earth, and having honored him with Your own image, O God, You placed him in a garden of delight, promising him eternal life and the enjoyment of everlasting blessings in the observance of Your commandments. But when he disobeyed You, the true God who had created him, and was led astray by the deception of the serpent becoming subject to death through his own transgressions, You, O God, in Your righteous judgment, expelled him from paradise into this world, returning him to the earth from which he was taken, yet providing for him the salvation of regeneration in Your Christ. For You did not forever reject Your creature whom You made, O Good One, nor did You forget the work of Your hands, but because of Your tender compassion, You visited him in various ways: You sent forth prophets; You performed mighty works by Your saints who in every generation have pleased You. You spoke to us by the mouth of Your servants the prophets, announcing to us the salvation which was to come; You gave us the law to help us; You appointed angels as guardians. And when the fullness of time had come, You spoke to us through Your Son Himself, through whom You created the ages. He, being the splendor of Your glory and the image of Your being, upholding all things by the word of His power, thought it not robbery to be equal with You, God and Father. But, being God before all ages, He appeared on earth and lived with humankind. Becoming incarnate from a holy Virgin, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, conforming to the body of our lowliness, that He might change us in the likeness of the image of His glory. For, since through man sin came into the world and through sin death, it pleased Your only begotten Son, who is in Your bosom, God and Father, born of a woman, the holy Theotokos and ever virgin Mary; born under the law, to condemn sin in His flesh, so that those who died in Adam may be brought to life in Him, Your Christ. He lived in this world, and gave us precepts of salvation. Releasing us from the delusions of idolatry, He guided us to the sure knowledge of You, the true God and Father. He acquired us for Himself, as His chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Having cleansed us by water and sanctified us with the Holy Spirit, He gave Himself as ransom to death in which we were held captive, sold under sin. Descending into Hades through the cross, that He might fill all things with Himself, He loosed the bonds of death. He rose on the third day, having opened a path for all flesh to the resurrection from the dead, since it was not possible that the Author of life would be dominated by corruption. So He became the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep, the first born of the dead, that He might be Himself the first in all things. Ascending into heaven, He sat at the right hand of Your majesty on high and He will come to render to each according to His works. As memorials of His saving passion, He has left us these gifts which we have set forth before You according to His commands. For when He was about to go forth to His voluntary, ever memorable, and life-giving death, on the night on which He was delivered up for the life of the world, He took bread in His holy and pure hands, and presenting it to You, God and Father, and offering thanks, blessing, sanctifying, and breaking it:

Priest: He gave it to His holy disciples and apostles saying: Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you and for the forgiveness of sins.

People: Amen.

Priest: Likewise, He took the cup of the fruit of vine, and having mingled it, offering thanks, blessing, and sanctifying it.

Priest: He gave it to His holy disciples and apostles saying: Drink of this all of you. This is my blood of the new Covenant, shed for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins.

People: Amen.

Priest: Do this in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you proclaim my death, and you confess my resurrection. Therefore, Master, we also, remembering His saving passion and life giving cross, His three; day burial and resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, and enthronement at Your right hand, God and Father, and His glorious and awesome second coming.

Priest: We offer to You these gifts from Your own gifts in all and for all.

People: We praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we pray to You, Lord our God.

Priest: Therefore, most holy Master, we also, Your sinful and unworthy servants, whom You have made worthy to serve at Your holy altar, not because of our own righteousness (for we have not done anything good upon the earth), but because of Your mercy and compassion, which You have so richly poured upon us, we dare to approach Your holy altar, and bring forth the symbols of the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ. We pray to You and call upon You, O Holy of Holies, that by the favor of Your goodness, Your Holy Spirit may come upon us and upon the gifts here presented, to bless, sanctify, and make this bread to be the precious Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.

He blesses the holy Bread.

Deacon: Amen.

Priest: And this cup to be the precious Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.

He blesses the holy Cup.

Deacon: Amen.

He blesses them both.

Priest: Shed for the life and salvation of the world.

Deacon: Amen. Amen. Amen.

Priest: And unite us all to one another who become partakers of the one Bread and the Cup in the communion of the one Holy Spirit. Grant that none of us may partake of the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ to judgment or condemnation; but, that we may find mercy and grace with all the saints who through the ages have pleased You: forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, teachers, and every righteous spirit made perfect in faith.

People: All of creation rejoices in you, O full of grace: the assembly of angels and the human race. You are a sanctified temple and a spiritual paradise, the glory from whom God was incarnate and became a child; our God, existing before all ages. He made your womb a throne, and your body more spacious than the heavens. All of creation rejoices in you, O full of grace. Glory to you.

The Priest censes.

Priest: For Saint John the prophet, forerunner, and baptist; for the holy, glorious, and most honorable apostles; for Saint (s) Name(s), whose memory we commemorate today; and for all Your saints, through whose supplications, O God, visit us. Remember also all who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection to eternal life (here the priest commemorates the names of the deceased). And grant them rest, our God, where the light of Your countenance shines. Again, we pray to You, be mindful of Your holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, which is from one end of the inhabited earth to the other. Grant peace to her which You have obtained with the precious blood of Your Christ. Strengthen also this holy house to the end of the ages. Remember, Lord, those who have brought You these gifts, and for whom and through whom and the intentions for which they were offered. Remember, Lord, those who bear fruit and do good works in Your holy churches, and those who remember the poor. Reward them with Your rich and heavenly gifts. Grant them in return for earthly things, heavenly gifts; for temporal, eternal; for corruptible, incorruptible. Remember, Lord, those who are in the deserts, on mountains, in caverns, and in the chambers of the earth. Remember, Lord, those living in chastity and godliness, in asceticism and holiness of life. Remember, Lord, this country and all those in public service whom you have allowed to govern on earth. Grant them profound and lasting peace. Speak to their hearts good things concerning your Church and all your people that through the faithful conduct of their duties we may live peaceful and serene lives in all piety and holiness. Sustain the good in their goodness; make the wicked good through Your goodness. Remember, Lord, the people here presented and those who are absent with good cause. Have mercy on them and on us according to the multitude of Your mercy. Fill their treasuries with every good thing; preserve their marriages in peace and harmony; nurture the infants; instruct the youth; strengthen the aged; give courage to the faint hearted; reunite those separated; bring back those in error and unite them to Your holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. Free those who are held captive by unclean spirits; sail with those who sail; travel with those who travel; defend the widows; protect the orphans; liberate the captives; heal the sick. Remember, Lord, those who are in mines, in exile, in harsh labor, and those in every kind of affliction, necessity, or distress; those who entreat your loving kindness; those who love us and those who hate us; those who have asked us to pray for them, unworthy though we may be. Remember, Lord our God, all Your people, and pour out Your rich mercy upon them, granting them their petitions for salvation. Remember, O God, all those whom we have not remembered through ignorance, forgetfulness or because of their multitude since You know the name and age of each, even from their mother's womb. For You, Lord, are the helper of the helpless, the hope of the hopeless, the savior of the afflicted, the haven of the voyager, and the physician of the sick. Be all things to all, You who know each person, his requests, his household, and his need. Deliver this community and city, O Lord, and every city and town, from famine, plague, earthquake, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreign enemies, and civil war.

Priest: Above all, remember, Lord, our Archbishop Name and our Bishop Name): Grant that they may serve Your holy churches in peace. Keep them safe, honorable, and healthy for many years, rightly teaching the word of Your truth.

Deacon: Remember also, Lord, those whom each of us calls to mind and all your people.

People: And all Your people.

Priest(in a low voice): Remember, Lord, all Orthodox bishops who rightly teach the word of Your truth. Remember Lord, my unworthiness according to the multitude of Your mercies; forgive my every transgression, both voluntary and involuntary. Do not take away the grace of Your Holy Spirit from these gifts presented because of my sins. Remember, Lord, the presbyters, the diaconate in Christ, and every order of the clergy, and do not confound any of us who stand about Your holy altar. Visit us with Your goodness, Lord; manifest Yourself to us through Your rich compassion. Grant us seasonable weather and fruitful seasons; send gentle showers upon the earth so that it may bear fruit; bless the crown of the year of Your goodness. Prevent schism in the Church; pacify the raging of the heathen. Quickly stop the uprisings of heresies by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Receive us all into Your kingdom. Declare us to be sons and daughters of the light and of the day. Grant us Your peace and love, Lord our God, for You have given all things to us.

Priest: And grant that with one voice and one heart we may glorify and praise Your most honored and majestic name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Priest: The mercy of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ be with all of you.

People: And with your spirit.

Deacon: Having remembered all the saints, let us again in peace pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the precious Gifts offered and consecrated, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: That our loving God who has received them at His holy, heavenly, and spiritual altar as an offering of spiritual fragrance, may in return send upon us divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Having prayed for the unity of the faith and for the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commit ourselves, and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest(in a low voice): Our God, the God who saves, You teach us justly to thank You for the good things which You have done and still do for us. You are our God who has accepted these Gifts. Cleanse us from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and teach us how to live in holiness by Your fear, so that receiving the portion of Your holy Gifts with a clear conscience we may be united with the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ. Having received them worthily, may we have Christ dwelling in our hearts, and may we become the temple of Your Holy Spirit. Yes, our God, let none of us be guilty before these, Your awesome and heavenly Mysteries, nor be infirm in body and soul by partaking of them unworthily. But enable us, even up to our last breath, to receive a portion of Your holy Gifts worthily, as provision for eternal life and as an acceptable defense at the awesome judgment seat of Your Christ. So that we also, together with all the saints who through the ages have pleased You, may become partakers of Your eternal good things, which You, Lord, have prepared for those who love You.

Priest: And make us worthy, Master, with confidence and without fear of condemnation, to dare call You, the heavenly God, Father, and to say:

The Lord's Prayer

People: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Priest: Peace be with all.

People: And with your spirit.

Deacon: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest:(in a low voice) Lord Master, the Father of mercies and God of every consolation, bless sanctify, guard, fortify, and strengthen those who have bowed their heads to You. Distance them from every evil deed. Lead them to every good work and make them worthy to partake without condemnation of these, Your most pure and life-giving Mysteries, for the forgiveness of sins and for the communion of the Holy Spirit.

Priest: By the grace, mercy, and love for us of Your only; begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all holy, good, and life giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Priest(in a low voice): Lord Jesus Christ, our God, hear us from Your holy dwelling place and from the glorious throne of Your kingdom. You are enthroned on high with the Father and are also invisibly present among us. Come and sanctify us, and let Your pure Body and precious Blood be given to us by Your mighty hand and through us to all Your people.

Deacon: Let us be attentive.

Priest: The holy Gifts for the holy people of God.

People: One is Holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Holy Communion

People: Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. Alleluia (3).

The Communion hymn changes according to the Feast Day.

After the fraction of the sacred Bread, the Priest says in a low voice):

The Lamb of God is broken and distributed; broken but not divided. He is forever eaten yet is never consumed, but He sanctifies those who partake of Him.

Then the Priest places a portion of the sacred Bread in the holy Cup saying:

The fullness of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

He then blesses the warm water saying:

Blessed is the fervor of Your saints, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Pouring the water into the Cup crosswise, he says:

The warmth of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Communion prayers are recited silently by those prepared to receive the holy Mysteries.

I believe and confess, Lord, that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. I also believe that this is truly Your pure Body and that this is truly Your precious Blood. Therefore, I pray to You, have mercy upon me, and forgive my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, known and unknown. And make me worthy without condemnation to partake of Your pure Mysteries for the forgiveness of sins and for life eternal. Amen.

How shall I, who am unworthy, enter into the splendor of Your saints? If I dare to enter into the bridal chamber, my clothing will accuse me, since it is not a wedding garment; and being bound up, I shall be cast out by the angels. In Your love, Lord, cleanse my soul and save me.

Loving Master, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, let not these holy Gifts be to my condemnation because of my unworthiness, but for the cleansing and sanctification of soul and body and the pledge of the future life and kingdom. It is good for me to cling to God and to place in Him the hope of my salvation.

Receive me today, Son of God, as a partaker of Your mystical Supper. I will not reveal Your mystery to Your adversaries. Nor will I give You a kiss as did Judas. But as the thief I confess to You: Lord, remember me in Your kingdom.

The Priest proceeds to receive holy Communion.

Priest: Behold, I approach Christ, our immortal King and God.

The precious and most holy Body of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ is given to me Name the priest, for the forgiveness of my sins and for eternal life.

He partakes of the sacred Bread.

Priest: The precious and most holy Blood of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ is given to me Name the priest, for the forgiveness of my sins and for eternal life.

He then drinks from the holy Cup. Afterwards, he wipes the holy Cup, kisses it, and says:

The Priest then transfers the remaining portions of the consecrated Bread into the holy Cup, saying:

Priest: Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We venerate Your cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify Your holy resurrection. You are our God. We know no other than You, and we call upon Your name. Come, all faithful, let us venerate the holy resurrection of Christ. For behold, through the cross joy has come to all the world. Blessing the Lord always, let us praise His resurrection. For enduring the cross for us, He destroyed death by death.

The Priest takes up the holy Cup, proceeds to the Royal Doors, raises it, and says:

Deacon: Approach with the fear of God, faith, and love.

Those prepared come forth with reverence to receive holy Communion while the people continue to sing the communion hymn.

When administering Holy Communion, the Priest says: The servant of God (Name) receives the Body and Blood of Christ for forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

After Communion has been given, the Priest blesses the people, saying:

Priest: Save, O God, Your people and bless Your inheritance.

People: We have seen the true light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith, worshiping the undivided Trinity, for the Trinity has saved us.

Returning to the holy Table, the Priest transfers the portions of the Theotokos and of the saints into the holy Cup. Then he does the same for those of the living and the dead saying in a low voice:

Priest: Wash away, Lord, by Your holy Blood, the sins of all those commemorated, through the intercessions of the Theotokos and all Your saints. Amen.

Priest: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let Your glory be over all the earth (3).

The Priest lifts the holy Cup and says in a low voice:

Priest: Blessed is our God.

Priest: Always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Deacon: Let us be attentive. Having partaken of the divine, holy, pure, immortal, heavenly, life giving, and awesome Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks to the Lord.

Deacon: Having prayed for a perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless day, let us commit ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest(in a low voice) We thank You, Lord, our God, for the communion of Your holy, most pure, immortal, and heavenly Mysteries which You have granted us for the benefit, sanctification, and healing of our souls and bodies. Grant, Master of all, that the communion of the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ may become for us faith unashamed, love unfeigned, fulness of wisdom, healing of soul and body, repelling of every hostile adversary, observance of Your commandments, and an acceptable defense at the dread judgment seat of Your Christ.

Priest: For You are our sanctification and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The Dismissal

Priest: Let us depart in peace.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Lord, bless those who praise You and sanctify those who trust in You. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Protect the whole body of Your Church. Sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house. Glorify them in return by Your divine power, and do not forsake us who hope in You. Grant peace to Your world, to Your churches, to the clergy, to those in public service, to the armed forces, and to all Your people. For every good and perfect gift is from above, coming from You, the Father of lights. To You we give glory, thanksgiving, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

On January 1, it is traditional instead of the above to say the following prayer:

Priest: O Christ, our God, accept from those who call upon You with all their heart this spiritual sacrifice without the shedding of blood as a sacrifice of praise and true worship. You are the Lamb and Son of God who bears the sins of the world; the blameless calf who does not accept the yoke of sin and who freely sacrificed Yourself for us. You are broken but not divided. You are consumed but never spent. You sanctify those who partake of you. In remembrance of Your voluntary passion and life-giving resurrection on the third day, You have made us partakers of Your ineffable and heavenly and awesome mysteries of Your holy Body and precious Blood. Preserve us, Your servants, those who minister, our leaders, the armed forces, and the people present here, in Your holiness. Grant that we may meditate upon Your righteousness at all times and in every season. Guide us and our actions so that we may do what is pleasing to You, and may You find us worthy to stand at Your right hand when You return to judge the living and the dead. Deliver our brothers and sisters who are in captivity, visit those who are sick, protect those who are in danger at sea, and give rest to the souls of all those who have fallen asleep in the hope of the eternal life where the light of Your face shines. Hear the petitions of all those who beseech You for Your help. For You are the giver of all good things, and to You we give glory, together with Your eternal Father and Your all holy, good, and life giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

People: Blessed is the name of the Lord, both now and to the ages (3).

Priest proceeding toward the Prothesis and saying in a low voice: The mystery of Your dispensation, O Christ our God, has been accomplished and perfected as far as it is in our power. We have had vie memorial of Your death. We hove seen the typos of Your resurrection. We have been filled with Your unending life. We have enjoyed Your inexhaustible delight which in the world to come be well pleased to give to us all, through the grace of Your holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy (3). Father, give the blessing.

Priest: May the blessing of the Lord and His mercy come upon you through His divine grace and love always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Priest: Glory to You, O God, our hope, glory to You.

Priest: May Christ our true God (who rose from the dead), as a good, loving, and merciful God, have mercy upon us and save us, through the intercessions of His most pure and holy Mother; the power of the precious and life giving Cross; the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven; the supplications of the honorable, glorious, prophet, and forerunner John the Baptist; the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles; the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs; our holy and God-bearing fathers name of the church the holy and righteous ancestors Joachim and Anna; Saint of the day whose memory we commemorate today, and all the saints.

People: Amen.

People: Lord, grant long life to him who blesses and sanctifies us.

Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

Anonymous

Lord Jesus Christ, my God, let Your sacred Body be unto me for eternal life and Your precious Blood for forgiveness of sins. Let this Eucharist be unto me for joy, health and gladness. And in Your awesome Second Coming make me, a sinner, worthy to stand at the right hand of Your glory; through the intercessions of Your pure Mother and of all Your Saints. Amen.

Saint Basil

I thank You, Christ and Master our God, King of the ages and Creator of all things, for all the good gifts You have given me, and especially for the participation in Your pure and life-giving mysteries. I pray to You, therefore, good and loving Lord, keep me under Your protection and under the shadow of Your wings. Grant that to my last breath I may with a pure conscience partake worthily of Your gifts for the forgiveness of sins and for eternal life. For You are the bread of life, the source of holiness, the giver of all good things, and to You we give glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Anonymous

I thank You, Lord my God, that You have not rejected me, a sinner, but have made me worthy to partake of Your holy mysteries. I thank You that You have permitted me, although I am unworthy, to receive Your pure and heavenly gifts. O loving Master, who died and rose for our sake, and granted to us these awesome and life-giving mysteries for the well-being and sanctification of our souls and bodies, let these gifts be for healing of my own soul and body, the averting of every evil, the illumination of the eyes of my heart, the peace of my spiritual powers, a faith unashamed, a love unfeigned, the fulfilling of wisdom, the observing of Your commandments, the receiving of Your divine grace, and the inheritance of Your kingdom. Preserved by them in Your holiness, may I always be mindful of Your grace and no longer live for myself, but for You, our Master and Benefactor. May I pass from this life in the hope of eternal life, and attain to the everlasting rest, where the voices of Your Saints who feast are unceasing, and their joy, beholding the ineffable beauty of Your countenance, is unending. For You, Christ our God, are the true joy and the inexpressable gladness of those who love You, and all creation praises You forever. Amen.

First Tone

Though the tomb was sealed by a stone and soldiers guarded Your pure body, You arose, O Savior, on the third day, giving life to the world. Therefore, O Giver of life, the heavenly powers praise You: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ, glory to Your kingdom, glory to Your plan of redemption, O only loving God.

Second Tone

When you descended unto death, O life immortal, You destroyed Hades with the splendor of Your divinity. And when You raised the dead from the depths of darkness, all the heavenly powers shouted: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You.

Third Tone

Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad, for the Lord has shown the power of His reign; He has conquered death by death, and become the first born of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of Hades; and has granted to the world great mercy.

Fourth Tone

The joyful news of Your resurrection was told to the women disciples of the Lord by the Angel. Having thrown off the ancestral curse, and boasting, they told the Apostles: death has been vanquished, Christ our God is risen, granting to the world great mercy.

Fifth Tone

To the Word, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation, let us, the faithful, give praise and worship. Of His own will, He mounted the cross in the flesh, He suffered death, and raised the dead by His glorious resurrection.

Sixth Tone

The heavenly powers appeared at Your tomb, and those guarding it became like dead. Mary stood at Your grave seeking Your pure body. You stripped the power of hades, not touched by its corruption. You met the virgin woman, as one who grants life. O Lord, who rose from the dead, glory to You.

Seventh Tone

By Your cross You destroyed death, and to the thief You opened paradise. You transformed the sorrow of the Myrrhbearers, and commanded the Apostles to proclaim that You have risen from the dead, Christ our God, granting to the world great mercy.

Eighth Tone

From on high You descended, O merciful Lord, and accepted the three-day burial to free us from our passions. Glory to You, O Lord, our life and our resurrection.

People: Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

People: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

People: Among the spirits of the righteous perfected in faith, give rest, O Savior, to the souls of Your servants. Bestow upon them the blessed life which is from You, O loving Lord.

People: Within Your peace, O Lord, where all Your saints repose, give rest also to the souls of Your servants, for You alone are immortal.

People: Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

People: O Savior, You are our God who descended into Hades and delivered from suffering those who were bound there. Grant rest also to the souls of Your servants.

People: Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

People: Most pure and spotless Virgin, who ineffably gave birth to God, intercede with Him for the salvation of the souls of your servants.

Priest: Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Again we pray for the blessed memory and eternal rest of the souls of Your departed servants: emperors, patriarchs, hierarchs, priests, hieromonks, deacons, monks, nuns, and all our departed faithful and Orthodox Christians everywhere in the world: fathers, forefathers, grandparents, great-grandparents, parents, brothers, and sisters, and relatives; and for the forgiveness of all their sins, both voluntary and involuntary.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Again we pray for the blessed memory and eternal rest of the souls of the departed servants of God (here are commemorated the names of the dead) and for the forgiveness of all their sins, both voluntary and involuntary.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: May the Lord God grant that their souls rest where the righteous repose. Let us ask Christ, our immortal King and God, for the mercies of God, the kingdom of heaven, and the forgiveness of their sins.

People: Grant this, O Lord (3).

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: O God of spirits and of all flesh, You have trampled upon death and have abolished the power of the devil, giving life to Your world. Give rest to the souls of Your departed servants: emperors, patriarchs, hierarchs, priests, hieromonks, deacons, monks, and all our departed faithful and Orthodox Christians, from one end of the world to the other: fathers, forefathers, grandparents, great-grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, and relatives. And place them in a place of light, in a place of repose, in a place of refreshment, where there is no pain, sorrow, and suffering. As a good and loving God, forgive every sin they have committed in thought, word, or deed, for there is no one who lives and does not sin. You alone are without sin. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and Your word is truth.

Priest: For You are the resurrection, the life, and the repose of Your departed servants, the faithful and Orthodox Christians, Christ our God, and to You we give glory, with Your eternal Father and Your all holy, good, and life giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

The Dismissal

Priest: May Christ our true God, who rose from the dead and as immortal King has authority over the living and the dead, have mercy on us and save us, through the intercessions of his spotless holy Mother; of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy Apostles, of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers; of the holy and glorious forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; of his holy and righteous friend Lazaros, who lay in the grave four days; and of all the Saints; establish the souls of His servants departed from us, in the dwelling place of the saints; grant rest to them in the bosom of Abraham, and number them among the righteous.

Priest: Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

The Apolytikion of the Feast

Tone Two

People: We venerate Your holy icon, loving Lord, asking You to pardon our transgressions, Christ our God. For You of Your own will were pleased to ascend upon the Cross in the flesh, so as to deliver those whom You have fashioned from the bondage of the enemy. Therefore in thanksgiving we sing to You: You filled all things with joy, our Savior, when You came to save the world.

The hymn of the church follows and then the Kontakion

Tone Four

People:To you, the invincible commander in chief we attribute victory, and sing praises of thanksgiving, O Theotokos. Keep us all unassailable and deliver us from all the dangers that beset us that we may sing: Hail, O bride unwedded.

Preceded by Altar Boys holding icons and the censer, the Priest exits from the Sanctuary with the holy Cross. A procession is made round the interior of the church in four stations. At each station, prayers are said and the Apolytikion of the Feast is sung.

People: We venerate Your holy icons, loving Lord, asking You to pardon our transgressions, Christ our God. For You of Your own will were pleased to ascend upon the Cross in the flesh, so as to deliver those whom You have fashioned from the bondage of the enemy. Therefore in thanksgiving we sing to You: You filled all things with joy, our Savior, when You came to save the world.

At the north side, prayers are said for the living.

Priest: Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Again we pray for all faithful and Orthodox Christians.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Again we pray for our Archbishop Name and our Bishop Name and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: For You are a merciful and loving God, and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The People repeat the Apolytikion:

People: We venerate Your holy icon, loving Lord, asking you to pardon our transgressions, Christ our God. For You of Your own will were well pleased to ascend upon the Cross in the flesh, so as to deliver those whom You have fashioned from the bondage of the enemy. Therefore in thanksgiving we sing to You: You filled all things with joy, our Savior, when You came to save the world.

At the west side, prayers are said for the dead: pious emperors, Orthodox patriarchs, hierarchs,...

Priest: Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.

Priest: For You are the resurrection, the life and the repose of Your departed servants, Christ our God, and to You we give glory, with Your eternal Father and Your all holy, good and life giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The Apolytikion is repeated.

We venerate your holy icon, loving God, asking you to pardon our transgressions, Christ our God. For You of Your own will were pleased to ascend upon the Cross in the flesh, so as to deliver those whom You have fashioned from the bondage of the enemy. Therefore, in thanksgiving we sing to You: You have filled all things with joy, our Savior, when You came to save the world.

At the south side, prayers are said for the living.

Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your steadfast love; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Again we pray for all faithful and Orthodox Christians.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Again we pray for our Archbishop Name and our Bishop Name and for all brothers and sisters in Christ.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: For You are a merciful and loving God, and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The Apolytikion is repeated.

People: We venerate Your holy icon, loving Lord, asking You to pardon our transgressions, Christ our God. For You of Your own will were pleased to ascend upon the Cross in the flesh, so as to deliver those whom You have fashioned from the bondage of the enemy. Therefore in thanksgiving we sing to You: You filled all things with joy, our Savior, when you came to save the world. At the east side, prayers are said for the living.

Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Again we pray for the protection of this holy church, this city and every city and town, from wrath, famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, sword, foreign invasions, civil strife, and accidental death. That our good and loving God may be merciful, gracious, and favorable to us, that he may turn and keep from us all wrath and sickness, and deliver us from His just rebuke, and have mercy on us.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Hear us, O God our Savior, the hope of all those who live everywhere on earth and those far out at sea. Be gracious toward our sins, Master, and have mercy on us.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: For You are a merciful and loving God, and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Here the Priest reads the following passages from the Synodikon of the Seventh Ecumenical Synod.

Priest: As the prophets beheld, as the apostles have taught, as the Church has received, as the teachers have declared, as the world has agreed, as grace has shown forth, as truth has been revealed, as falsehood has been dispelled, as wisdom has become manifest, as Christ awarded; thus we declare; thus we affirm; thus we proclaim Christ our true God, and honor His saints in words, writings, thoughts, sacrifices, churches, and holy icons; on the one hand, worshiping and reverencing Christ as God and Lord, and on the other, honoring the saints as true servants of the same Lord of all, and offering them proper veneration. This is the faith of the apostles. This is the faith of the fathers. This is the faith of the Orthodox. This is the faith on which the world is established. Therefore, with fraternal and filial love we praise the heralds of the faith, those who with glory and honor have struggled for the faith, and we say: to the champions of Orthodoxy, 'faithful emperors, most-holy patriarchs, hierarchs, teachers, martyrs, and confessors: May your memory be eternal.

People: May their memory be eternal (3).

Priest: Let us beseech God that we may be instructed and strengthened by the trials and struggles of these saints, which they endured for the faith even unto death, and by their teachings, entreating that we may to the end imitate their godly life. May we be deemed worthy of obtaining our requests through the mercy and grace of the Great and First Hierarch, Christ our God, through the intercessions of our glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, the divine angels and all the Saints.

People: Amen.

People: Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who alone perform wonders (3).

People: Today salvation has come to the world. Let us sing and praise Him who rose from the tomb and is the author of life. For having vanquished death by death, He has bestowed upon us victory and great mercy.

The Apolytikion of the Feast

Tone Eight

Light of Orthodoxy, pillar and teacher of the Church, glory of monks and invincible champion of theologians, the boast of Thessalonike, and herald of grace, O Gregory the Wonderworker, pray without ceasing for the salvation of our souls.

The Hymn of the Church and the Kontakion

Tone Four

To you the invincible commander in chief we attribute victory, and sing praises of thanksgiving, O Theotokos. Keep us all unassailable and deliver us from all the dangers that beset us that we may sing: Hail, O bride unwedded.

The Apolytikion of the Feast

Tone One

Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance. Give victory to Your leaders against their adversaries, and protect Your people by Your Cross.

The Hymn of the Church and the Kontakion

Tone Four

To you, the invincible commander in chief we attribute victory, and sing praises of thanksgiving, O Theotokos. Keep us all unassailable and deliver us from all the dangers that beset us that we may sing: Hail, O bride unwedded.

The Service of the Veneration of the Cross

Tone One

The People and Choir sing the melodic Thrice-holy Hymn of the Doxology, slowly.

People: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

The Priest censes the holy Cross (resting on a tray decorated with aromatic flowers and three candies) which is on the holy Table. He lifts up the tray and exits from the Sanctuary in procession within the interior of the church. He is preceded by candle-bearers, the Hexapteryga, followed by the Psalte and an Altar Boy censing. They circle the church, pausing in the center where there is a decorated table. The Priest then circles the table thrice and stands before it, looking toward the east. He then raises the tray above his head and intones:

Priest: Wisdom, stand.

He then places the tray on the table and censes around it and chants:

Priest: Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance. Give victory to Your leaders against their adversaries, and Protect Your people by Your cross.

The Apolytikion of the Feast

Tone Eight

Your abundant tears made the wilderness bloom and your deep sighs of the heart, made your labors a hundredfold. O John, our holy father, you have become a light to the world by the glory of your miracles. Pray to Christ, our God for the salvation of our souls.

The Hymn of the Church and the Kontakion

Tone Four

To you, the invincible commander in chief we attribute victory, and sing praises of thanksgiving, O Theotokos. Keep us all unassailable and deliver us from all dangers that beset us that we may sing: Hail, O bride, unwedded.

The Apolytikion of the Feast

Tone Eight

In You, O Mother, was preserved unimpaired, the image of God, for you have taken up the cross and followed Christ. By your deeds you have taught us to overlook the flesh, for it passes away, and to care for the soul which is immortal. Therefore, holy Mother Mary, your spirit rejoices with the angels.

The Hymn of the Church and the Kontakion

Tone Four

O unfailing protectress of Christians and ever present intercessor before the Creator, do not turn away from the prayers of us sinners; but of your goodness extend your timely help to us who in faith call upon you. Hasten, to intercede, O Theotokos, and make speed to supplicate for us, for you always protect those who honor you.

Priest: O Lord our God, You are enthroned upon the Cherubim. You have raised up Your might and sent forth Your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that through His cross, burial, and resurrection He might save the world at his coming today to Jerusalem, for His voluntary passion, the people that sat in darknessand in the shadow of death, taking the symbols of victory, the boughs of trees and branches of palms, went forth and proclaimed by anticipation the resurrection. The same Lord also keep and preserve us, who in imitation of them bear in our hands palms and boughs of trees on this day of the feast, and like those multitudes and children offer too You hosanna. We pray that with hymns and spiritual songs, we may The deemed worthy of the life-giving resurrection on the third day, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all holy, and good, and life giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Priest: Bless, O Lord, this new fruit of the vine, which You have graciously been pleased to bring to maturity through temperate seasons, gentle rains, and favorable weather. Let it be for joy to those of us who shall partake of this fruit of the vine for the purification of those who offer it as a gift, through the sacred and holy Body and Blood of Your Christ, with whom You art blessed, together with Your all holy, good, and life giving Spirit, now and forever and to ages of ages.

The Orthodox Christians inhabit and measure time by a calendar itself touched by the Incarnate Word of God. The recurring rhythms of the year, the months, the weeks, and the days alternating with nights mean much more than the simple passage of time.Read More

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